About the Program

A regional leader in pancreas and islet transplantation, Massachusetts General Hospital continues to achieve some of the best outcomes in pancreas transplantation in the country. We are also one of the few centers in the country to offer islet transplantation, a pioneering, minimally invasive technique that replaces the insulin producing cells of the pancreas with less surgical risk and a shorter recovery time than a whole organ transplant.

Support Us

To learn more how you can support the Pancreas/Islet Transplant Program, contact James F. Markmann, MD, PhD, at 617-643-4533.

To make a gift now, please contact Tyrone C. Latin in Mass General Development at 617-643-5781 or make a donation online

For patients who require both a kidney and a pancreas or islet transplant, we offer convenient access to both procedures, as well as the ease and reassurance of receiving comprehensive, innovative care at one center.

Leadership in Islet Transplantation

The Mass General islet team is part of the multicenter Clinical Islet Transplantation Consortium (CIT), dedicated to advancing the technique of islet transplantation. We also operate the only active FDA-approved facility for the isolation and preparation of islets for human transplantation.

Patients with type 1 diabetes who are not candidates for whole organ pancreas transplantation may be eligible to undergo islet transplantation through a clinical trial currently underway at our Transplant Center.

Mass General has also initiated an islet auto transplant program for patients with chronic pancreatitis, in which patients requiring surgical removal of their pancreas have the insulin-producing islets isolated from the removed pancreas and replaced in the patient’s body to prevent the development of diabetes.

To learn more about islet auto transplantation, call James Markmann, MD, PhD, at 617-643-4533.

Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Evaluation

All patients receive integrated, comprehensive care to treat their diabetes, beginning with a careful assessment and discussion with the patient to ensure that transplantation is his/her best treatment option. Candidates work with a transplant coordinator, who participates in the initial evaluation, gathers medical information and previous test results, and manages the patient’s full evaluation, which includes patient education, medical, surgical and psychosocial evaluation, and transplant-specific testing. Learn more about the pre-transplant evaluation

Pancreas transplant candidates are placed on the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list, which manages the distribution of organs nationwide. Learn more about waiting list

Post-transplant Care

After transplantation, patients are followed by our team of surgeons, endocrinologists and nurses who manage the post-transplant needs of the patient, including communication with the patient’s primary care physicians and referral to other specialists, as needed. Learn more about post-transplant care

Meet the Team

The Mass General Pancreas Transplant Team guides patients through every stage of care with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, dietitians, case managers, financial coordinators and other clinicians to help navigate the transplant process. Scroll through the list below to meet the team. Learn more about the Pancreas Transplant Team